If there was one thing that dominated this past fall, it would definitely have to be low-budget comedies.  

“There’s Something About Mary” (I know it came out in the later part of summer, but it helps illustrate my point) started the season off with a bang.  

People turned out in droves to see the body-casted dog, yeah that was the reason, and laugh their cares away.  

That seemed to be a recurring trend throughout the fall—Hollywood low-budget comedies with less than blockbuster stars competing for the number one spot against mega-budget blockbusters.  

Who would have bet that “There’s Something About Mary” would gross over $170 million?  For that matter, did “Rush Hour” have any business pulling in close to $130 million? 

Studios that bank rolled can’t-miss hits like “Soldier” and “Ronin” took it on the jaw, while those studios that took minimal chances with “Mary,” “Rush Hour” and “The Waterboy” are laughing all the way to the bank.  

Pair the vampire-action movie, “Blade,” with “Rush Hour” and lowly New Line put a hurting on its bigger brothers.  

“Blade,” a comic adapted movie from Marvel Comics, surprised even the most devoted comic fans.  

While some were expecting another Wesley Snipes movie, what they got was an overdose of adrenalized action scenes and terrific special effects.  

While most comic related movies have failed in the recent past, “Blade” delivered an enjoyable action feast.

Notice a trend?  Good.  Moviegoers are going to movies that they know they will enjoy.  

Many of the studios are putting no-brainers out there.  There wasn’t an abundance of over-acted, depressing, melodramatic epics (read “The English Patient” and “Titanic”).  They saved those ‘masterpieces for the summer crowds. 

While the fall doesn’t get nearly the amount of movies the summer does, it does get a strong set of second-stringers.  These are where the gems are found.  

Publicity for these movies is cut in half. Viewers aren’t bombarded about how “size does matter.” 

The public goes in with less than high hopes, and when, in the case of “Rush Hour” and “Mary,” the movie delivers, they are entertained. Two words: repeat viewing.

Now that facts and figures have been trudged through, let’s get to my favorite part: opinion.  While I’ve had a steady diet of decent movies this semester, I have seen a couple of bombs.       

Before I tackle the movies that I have seen, let me address the issue of not being able to see movies that I want to see. 

I’m not talking about crowd noise or sell-outs either.  I’m talking about the somewhat lackluster movie selection in the high country.  

Both theaters in Boone consistently book can’t-miss Hollywood blockbusters, but when it comes to lesser known movies such as “Beloved,” “American History X” or “Elizabeth,” would-be-viewers have to trek down the mountain.   

Now, let’s take a look at a couple of winners from this past season.  At the top of the heap would have to be “Rush Hour.”  

Jackie Chan delivered an expected performance, but the best thing about this movie was the emergence of Chris Tucker as a comedy heavyweight.  

If Tucker can repeat in “Double-O Soul” later next year, then Tucker will have arrived.  

Adam Sandler’s “The Waterboy” was also a very entertaining, low-risk movie.  Who couldn’t be entertained by Cajun aqua technician Bobby Boucher and his mama?

Rounding out the list would have to be “Blade,” “Enemy of the State” and “Ronin.”  All three were pulse-pounding action flicks that let you lose yourself in the story.

I don’t want to deem the following movies as bad, let’s just say they were extremely disappointing.  

“What Dreams May Come” was the letdown of the year, hands down.  Every commercial and trailer that I saw made it look immaculate.  
Too bad that the best parts were the commercials.  

Aside from a mediocre performance from Robin Williams, “Dreams” was a concoction of depression and terrible acting.

Another “disappointment” would have to be “Vampires.”  I mean, James Woods as an action hero?  Forget it.  Aside from a few cool special effects and vampires, it sucked.  

Joining “Vampires” and “Dreams” in the disappointing category would be “Soldier,” where Kurt Russell spoke a total of 69 words, and “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer,” a predictable film that played itself out in its predecessor.

Until next year, go enjoy the holiday fodder that the studios are going to be throwing at you.